#OnTour A Wolf On The Loose By Daniel Straka - #Interview + #Giveaway

 A Wolf On The Loose  By Daniel Straka is now on a Virtual Book Tour from June 19 to July 22, 2016.

A Wolf On The Loose: Episode 1 (A Wolf On The Loose)
by Dan Straka

Genre: Thriller, Suspense
Publication: February 21st, 2015
Connect: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon

A Wolf On The Loose is a weekly e-serial, containing 36 parts spread over 5 episodes. One part is released weekly, free, on Amazon for 5 days (Monday-Friday). Completed episodes are available for purchase. 

Amid struggling with his addictions, former Marine Andrew St George goes AWOL from his rich family and lavish lifestyle. He appears months later in Miami with one intent; convince his friend, Emilio Cortez, to start a Private Military Company with him. Having left the Corps after his brother was killed in a drive-by, Emilio’s been stuck working three jobs to support his extended family, all of whom he lives with in a small apartment. 

While Andrew and Emilio enter into the security business looking for an escape from their civilian lives, both struggle with their demons. From the slums of Miami, the glitzy South Beach nightlife, to Cartel controlled Mexico, the boys will learn that despite their best intentions, no one job is the same and that there are battles to be fought outside of war zones.

Interview with Dan Straka

1. Tell me about yourself & your book.

A WOLF ON THE LOOSE is a weekly adventure/thriller about two former Marines trying to find their place in the civilian world by starting a private security company in Miami, Florida. What they get, is more than they bargained for.

The genre, timeframe, and format allowed me to have the character’s living in our world, reacting to major events. The week-to- week format also gave the characters room to breathe; slice-of- life scenes that wouldn’t fit within a novel were able to be included.

The nature of the security company, and finding new clients with varying backgrounds, allows for social commentary on subjects ranging from police shootings to veteran’s affairs, gang wars, drug lords, and even nerd culture.

2. How do you come up with the idea of the book? What is your inspiration?

Originally I started a novel, based on a private military company (PMC), and the protagonist was a female journalist embedded with the PMC operating in Kurdistan. This plot had some legs, and may appear in future seasons, but at the time I didn't have enough "good stuff" to flesh out an entire engaging story.

Around that time I watched Showtime's "Strike Back", which was focused on two Special Forces soldiers engaging in alternative conflict theaters and in small scale battles. I thought, that's how I should do my story.

The plots of AWOTL are not about stopping a speeding train filled with bombs, on its way to DC. AWOTL is about the characters dealing with conflicts based on events that can, and do, happen in the real world, and their own struggles. That's why Andrew and Emilio are not action heroes straight out of Call of Duty. They are simply two former Marines, with their own hang-ups and issues.

3. How long did it take you to write this book?

I started preliminary work in the fall of 2013, and weekly releases began in January 2015. Thirty-six weeks later, Season 1 concluded in September 2015 with a nasty cliffhanger.

4. Do your characters ever surprise you? 

Yes, not just the characters but the flow of the narrative. I'll start planning and typing out a scene, and as the characters are talking, things happen. I sit back and think, oh, I didn’t anticipate that twist. That's in the initial draft, and then I re-write. The best way for me to edit and keep that plot twist or excitement I uncovered is: read a scene, remember what I like about it, then crtl+x and delete. And rewrite it from memory.

5. Grade your book. How many stars out of a perfect score of 5 stars? Please give the reason.

I think the story overall is fun and engaging, and the writing is clean thanks to my editor. Even my wife likes AWOTL! She is a diehard Jane Austen and classics fan, and not a fan of thrillers. So I count that as high praise!

Like most writers, I'm happy with some scenes and wish I could tweak others. Really, I'm more interested in what readers think. How they feel. And I hope they get as excited to read AWOTL each week, as I was to write it.

6. What are you working on right now?

I'm actively working on Season 2 of AWOTL. This one requires a bit more research. And, I'm going a traditional publishing route with a sword and sorcery fantasy.

7. Anything you would like to say to your readers?

As part of the blog tour, I will be releasing one episode a week for free on Amazon, beginning on July 4 th . I hope you enjoy reading any, or all, of A Wolf On the Loose. I’d love to hear your feedback in the comments section, or as a review on Amazon.

Thanks for reading!

Author Bio

Dan achieved a BFA in photography and metal working and since graduating, has done neither. By day he works in manufacturing. By night, often very late into the night, he writes and stalks America's sub-cultures on the vast internets.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon

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#ReleaseBlitz : Porn Money and Wannabe Mummy by Laura Barnard + #Interview + #Giveaway

Release Blitz

Porn Money and Wannabe Mummy 

Release date: 23rd March 

Hosted by Two Ordinary Girls and their Books 

Porn Money and Wannabe Mummy

by Laura Barnard

Genre: Women's Fiction, Chick Lit

Publication: March 23rd, 2016

Buy: Amazon UK | Amazon US

What is it about turning thirty that sends rational women into a tailspin?

Suddenly going from having all the time in the world, to cringing at the ticking of her biological clock, Poppy is drowning under the strain of trying to get pregnant.

With a dad in the throes of a mid-life crisis, a crazy mother-in-law and time racing towards Lilly's wedding, will she be able to cope with it all...and give Ryan the baby they so desperately want?

Finally able to inherit her dad's porn money, Jazz can't wait to be rich! She can buy a house in Chelsea, go out partying with her old mates and start living how she deserves.

But with Ollie, Jemima and Meryl each clawing at their own little piece of her happiness, will she have to leave behind those closest to her in exchange for it?

The real question is, can Poppy and Jazz rescue their own lives before everything gets ruined, or will their own stubbornness destroy the lives they've created

Interview with Laura Bernard

1. Please introduce yourself and your book.

I'm Laura Barnard from Hertfordshire in the UK. Porn Money & Wannabe Mummy is the third instalment in the Debt & the Doormat series, although it can be read as a complete stand alone. It follows best friends Jazz and Poppy as they turn 30. Jazz inherits her fathers fortune which he acquired from his porn empire in the eighties and Poppy is desperately trying to fall pregnant with her husband Ryan. Things are never straight forward with these two so prepare to laugh as you follow them on their hilarious journeys.

2. How do you come up with the idea of the book? What is your inspiration?

I had the idea of Poppy's fertility struggles through my own. It was actually through my own struggles that I decided to take a creative writing course and finally publish my first book. Everyone always assumes they'll fall pregnant no problem, but these days, so many couples are being referred because of problems.

I'd previously mentioned in one of the earlier books that Jazz was to inherit her money and I wanted to explore how it changes relationships. 

3. Do your characters ever surprise you? 

All the time! Sometimes they can be so outrageous that I actually question if I can put it in the book. Then I think, oh why not! They're normally the parts people always comment on saying they laughed so hard.

4. What has been your highlight since becoming an author?

I love going to the book signings. I remember my first one, thinking that no one would come to me. I was overwhelmed by the readers that took the time to come chat with me and say how much I made them giggle.

5. Grade your book. How many stars out of a perfect score of 5 stars?  Please give the reason too.

I'd give myself four stars because no matter how hard I work I always think I could have written more and made it better.

6. What are you working on right now?

I'm just getting over this book! Once I've recovered my next one is called Cock and Bull, but I don't like to say too much about them until I've dived in. 

7. Please say something to your readers.

Thank you so much for the support over the last few years. Without loyal readers like you I wouldn't be able to live out my dream every day.

Author info

Laura Barnard lives in Hertfordshire, UK and writes romantic comedy or 'chick lit' as its so often described. In her spare time she enjoys drinking her body weight in tea, indulging in cupcakes the size of her face and drooling over hunks like Jamie Dornan, Ryan Gosling and Leo Dicaprio.

She enjoys wearing yoga pants and reading fitness magazines while sitting on the sofa eating chocolate. She's a real fan of the power nap and of course READING!

She writes not to get rich or famous, but because she LOVES writing. Even if one person tells her they enjoyed her book it makes the midnight typing worth it!

http://www.facebook.com/laurabarnardbooks
https://twitter.com/BarnardLaura
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3490836.Laura_Barnard

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On Tour: Eleusis by Genevieve Fairbrother - Review + Interview

Genevieve Fairbrother is now on tour with CLP Blog Tours with her book, Eleusis. Please visit her tour page on CLP Blog Tours for more blog stop and a chance to win a $20 Amazon gift card!

Eleusis
by Genevieve Fairbrother

Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance, Young Adult
Publication:  February 12th 2013
Format: ebooks
Author:  Website, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, Book Trailer

Macy needs a break to sort out her life. Her parents are dead and now a moody trespasser has set up camp on the property she has inherited. When the stranger confesses himself to be an ageless sea-god and tells Macy she has been guarding a secret she never knew existed, her simple life takes a drastic turn. Just when she thinks it can’t get any stranger, a back door to the Underworld opens up and it’s time to run like hell.

This fast-paced adventure romance novel explodes as the dark forces tracking Macy surface to capture her. In the transatlantic chase that follows, she learns of her forgotten past and an ancient connection to the sea-god who helps her escape.

As events challenge Macy, she must come to grips with her past, determine what she wants in life, and become a force in her own right. Family betrayal, sinister plot twists, and unlikely friends fill this exhilarating story of one woman’s journey to forge her own path as she learns her true identity.

She soon realizes that to gain real freedom and become legend, she must reject her assigned place in history and risk everything in the process.

I received a copy of Eleusis by Genevieve Fairbrother from CLP Blog Tours as part of the blog tour.

I was intrigued with the story as I read the summary. I like reading books with Greek mythology. Eleusis is about Macy who came to Eleusis to check out the property she inherited from her parents. But strange, dangerous things began to occur. When Macy met Jason, who then confessed that he is a sea-god, Macy wouldn’t believe him. It can’t be true, can it?

Eleusis started out a bit slow in my opinion. But the author had her way to build up the story slowly. At first I was interested to know the story behind Eleusis and whatever strange things that happen in Macy’s life. When Macy decided to help Jason to get back to his home… this was when things begin to get much more interesting.

I love Macy. She’s strong and smart. I love the romance part with Macy and Jason. At first I thought that things were happening too fast between them, but then I started to enjoy watching them together a lot.

Genevieve had her way with writing. Her writing style was captivating. I love her description on places and things that occur around Macy. She made it sounds so vivid! I really enjoy Eleusis. It was a book packed adventure, fantasy and a little bit of romance. 

Interview

1. Please introduce yourself and your book.

I wanted one word to encapsulate a central message. Eleusis is a city in Greece that is considered a point of freedom or rebirth from Ancient Greece. When I settled on that title I knew it was the right one for this book. Eleusis is a contemporary re-imagination of the Persephone myth with a twist. Persephone is the reason for this urban fantasy but it is the “front” for the story of a woman who escapes oppression and slowly goes from being powerless and in hiding to one who finds love, acceptance and then has the courage to face her captor and push back. I attended Wellesley before pursuing a medical degree at Tufts university school of medicine. I am a fulltime OB-GYN at Northside hospital in Atlanta, the largest obstetric hospital in the USA. My husband is a scientist and we have two teenage children. I enjoy sailing, reading, cooking, and travelling to exotic destinations.

2. When and why did you decided to write?

I recently found this quote “At any given moment you have the power to say: This is not how the story is going to end.” About three years ago Eleusis that had begun to grow in my mind at age 8 finally took up too much space and I decided to get it out and onto paper (okay, my computer). Greek mythology is the original urban fantasy series and as a child I loved all the stories with one exception. The mythology where Persephone was abducted into the underworld by Hades and just accepted her fate bugged me. I imagined re-writing an ending where she escapes. I drew from personal experience as a young woman coming of age post ERA and Title IX where women had great opportunities but still were expected to do everything on the home front. It was a false freedom. I wanted to evolve Persephone from a trapped powerless woman to one who escapes but lives a half life in hiding until she can find the right balance and live a fully realized and self-directed life. I want the next generation of women and men to live more balanced lives than my generation.

3. Why did you choose to write about Greek Mythology/fantasy?

Greek mythology is the original urban fantasy series and it accurately portrays the hopes, fears, and human frailties that make the world we know so complex. I am attracted as an author to this genre because I can write fantastical stories without limiting my imagination to such things as death, gravity, or time but still ground my characters with humanism.

4. Tell us a little bit about Macy and what do you think makes a good heroine?

Macy is relatable and real. She tries her best and is humble and that trait never leaves her even when she realizes her powers. People who have suffered adversity or have successfully dealt with their own short-comings are usually kinder more forgiving people. She has been wronged but when she manages to regain control of her life and become a power in her own right she is not vengeful.

5. Anything you would like to say to your readers?

“We stopped looking for monsters under our bed when we realized they were all in our head.” Children have such great imaginations because they are not limited by pre-conceived ideas. The ancient cultures have such wildly fantastical stories but the root emotions and human relationships tie us together through the ages. Timeless stories tap into those familiar emotions. The magic is capturing those emotions in unique and compelling ways. I hope you enjoy Eleusis. It is an adventure of discovery, love, and self-determination. “May your world unfold in your dreams.”

Author's Bio

The author lives in Atlanta with her husband and two teenagers. She attended Wellesley.

Connect with author: Website, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, Book Trailer

**Everyone who leaves a comment on the CLP tour page will be entered to win a $20 Amazon gift card! Anyone who purchases their copy of Eleusis before June 17 and sends their receipt to Samantha (at) ChickLitPlus (dot) com, will get five bonus entries.**

Blog Tour: Breaking The Rules By Cat Lavoie - Interview

Hey there! Cat Lavoie is now on tour with ABG Reads Book Tours with her book, Breaking The Rules. I am pleased to welcome Cat Lavoie to Ai Love Books for an author interview. I am still in the middle of reading this book, but I can tell that this  is one will be one of my favorite chick-lit read. Please visit her tour page on ABG Reads Book Tours for more blog stop.

1. Tell me about yourself

 My name is Cat and I live in Montreal, Canada with my cat, Abbie. I'm a claims analyst by day and when I switch into writer mode, I write chick lit. My debut novel, Breaking the Rules, was released in August 2012 by Marching Ink. I'm addicted to cooking and home renovation TV shows and I never leave the house without my Kindle.

2. How and why did you become a writer?

When I was growing up, my nose was always stuck in a book and I knew that, someday, I wanted to create stories of my own. I went through a poetry phase when I was in high school and wrote the most horrible poems--they have since been destroyed, thank goodness. I was in my early twenties when I discovered chick lit and instantly knew it was what I wanted to write. I started a few stories that never went anywhere and—when I decided to really focus on writing a book from beginning to end—Breaking the Rules was born.

 3. Describe your book, Breaking The Rules.

 Breaking the Rules is the story of two lifelong best friends, Roxy and Ollie, and how their relationship changes when a goodbye hug turns into a passionate kiss. Roxy has to decide if she's going to go on with her life pretending that the kiss never happened—or if she's going to risk everything for Ollie. The novel also deals with Roxy's complicated relationship with her two sisters, her demanding boss and her fiancé. It's a story about standing up for yourself and going after what you really want.

4. What inspires you in writing Breaking The Rules?

 I'm inspired by real life. Since I spend a lot of time commuting to and from work, I overhear a lot of conversations on the bus and subway. (Not on purpose. Okay, maybe a little on purpose.) I'm fascinated by people in general and, although Breaking the Rules is completely fictional, it was inspired by things I've gone through or witnessed—or imagined while daydreaming during those long commutes!

5. How do you create your characters, Roxy and the others?

I often joke that there are tiny people living in my head and—when they have animated conversations with each other—I learn a lot about them. With every character, I begin with basic details and, as I'm writing, the rest of that person's story will start to emerge and sometimes take me in a completely different direction. That's what happened with Roxy—in my early drafts, her name was Rosalee and she was actually a teacher, not a personal assistant.

6. What are you working on right now?

I'm currently working on my second novel called Zoey & the Moment of Zen. It's the story of a woman who gets sent to a tropical resort by her friends and family to get over an ex-boyfriend.

7. Anything you would like to say to your readers?

Thank you, readers! I always thought that the best part of publishing a novel would be to see it for sale on Amazon. And although that's pretty darn cool, I'd have to say that the best part of being a writer is having complete strangers contact me to say they enjoyed my novel. I'll never get tired of that and I'll always be grateful that people are choosing to spend a few hours with my characters.

Breaking The Rules
by Cat Lavoie

Genre: Chick Lit
Pages: 380
Publisher: Marching Ink

When twenty-seven year old Roxy Rule’s best friend and roommate accepts a glamorous new job overseas, she expects their relationship to continue as it’s always been—carefree and easy—until they share a heart-stopping kiss moments before his departure. Overcome with mixed emotions, she fights the urge to over analyze the situation and resumes back to her normal life in New York City, working for an intolerable boss at a dead end job, creeping further and further away from her own dreams of becoming a professional chef.

While things become more complicated between her and Ollie, Roxy is sure that nothing can come between two lifelong best friends—not even mild jealousy over a thriving career or a silly little kiss that meant nothing. In fact, it was such a meaningless and forgettable kiss that she convinces herself that it’s not even worth mentioning to her fiancé, although it is all she can think about.

Roxy’s already topsy-turvy life only gets more complicated when her sisters Steffi and Izzie suddenly become her roommates. Steffi is six months into a pregnancy she refuses to discuss and Izzie is in the throes of a premature midlife crisis. Roxy tries to take control of her career, her love life and her sisters – but can she really handle it all? And can the Rule family keep it together – or break under the pressure?